This Day In New York Yankees History 4/19: Gossage Hurt in Fight w/ Teammate

On this day in 1979 Goose Gossage sprained a ligament in his thumb while fighting with teammate Cliff Johnson. The closer would be out until mid July and Johnson was traded to the Indians for Don Hood due to the brawl in the clubhouse.

Also on this day in 1960 Roger Maris made his New York Yankees debut going 4-5 while batting leadoff on Opening Day. Maris racked up 11 bases, including two home runs and a double, and saw the Yankees win 8-4 over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Also on this day in 1949 Babe Ruth joined Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins in receiving a center field monument from the Yankees after their deaths. Ruth died eight months prior before joining Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.

Also on this day in 1948 Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds refused to leave second base after hitting his first and only home run of his career. Allie thought the Washington Senators were trying to trick him as he did not see the ball clear the left field fence. Obviously Reynolds, in front of President Truman, eventually was convinced enough to run the bases.

Finally on this day in 1939 Joe DiMaggio learned the news that he was engaged and planned to marry that summer to actress Dorthy Arnold. DiMaggio quickly shot down the rumors saying that no ceremony would take place during the baseball season and the two wed in November of that year.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 4/18

It’s time for Saturday night baseball on Fox Sports 1 as the New York Yankees travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with possibly the Rays best pitcher in Jake Odorizzi. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on FOX Sports 1 and MLB TV.

If you’re in the Tampa St. Pete area tomorrow afternoon you can catch a Yankees game by getting a pair of Yankees tickets right here on the blog. If you’re not a transplanted Yankees fan and you’re in the Bronx you can also get your tickets now for any game this season right here on the blog without all those fees and shipping costs being added on. Click the Yankees Tickets link above on the page to get yours and receive a discount just for being a Greedy Pinstripes reader. If you’d rather stay at home and cook your own hot dogs and drink your own beer then we invite you to comment on our comments section for every game or we invite you to join us on Twitter (@GreedyStripes). We try and live tweet and comment on every single game so join us and support the home team. Go Yankees!!!

Joe Girardi Teaches Zen of Yogi Classes w/ Outtakes

FYI Mr. Girardi and class but these are only funny if you’re winning. Just saying. And now the outtakes!

Okay so the bloopers made up for a bit…. But just a bit. 

Marlins Claim Yankees LHP Matt Tracy

The New York Yankees called up Matt Tracy after purchasing his contract to give the team a fresh arm in the bullpen. After just one appearance Tracy was designated for assignment with the hopes of clearing waivers and being sent back to Scranton. That hope did not work out for New York as the Miami Marlins claimed Tracy off waivers this afternoon and will send him to their Triple-A affiliate.

Missing Robinson Cano Yet?

Since the New York Yankees lost one of their own in Robinson Cano to free agency the team has seen the likes of Brian Roberts, Yangervis Solarte, Stephen Drew and others playing at the vacated second base position. None of these players have been especially good but with players like Jose Pirela and Robert Refsnyder on the horizon there seems to finally be a light at the end of the tunnel. Oh and when Cano does stuff like he did earlier this week it doesn’t make me miss him much either.

Cano is easily one of the best players in the game of Major League Baseball but could you imagine what he could be if he put forth 110% and kept his head in the game? We’d be talking about one of the best players of all-time. Instead we’re talking about how Cano simply trotted home after one of his teammates, Logan Morrison, drew a walk. Cano obviously thought the bases were loaded but they weren’t as the Mariners only had a runner on second base joining Cano at third. Whoops.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Paco Rodriguez caught Cano trying to “steal home” and the Mariners second baseman was eventually tagged out at third base. Hey we all make mistakes and Cano did take full responsibility for the play after the game calling himself the “dumbest guy in the game” but these little nonchalant plays happen a little too often for Cano. Remember when many in Seattle worried that his physical after signing his free agent mega deal was going to be a simple run down to first base after a single? Well I made that last part up but you get the picture. Cano, get your head in the game pal!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 4/18

The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays continue their three game set today on the holiday that only comes once every fifth day for Yankees fans, we call it Tanaka Day. The Yankees will send their ace Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Jake Odorizzi for the Rays. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on Fox Sports 1 and MLB TV. New York is still searching for their first series win of the season and a win tonight would go a long way to helping the team achieve those goals in this series inside Tropicana Field.

• Tanaka was not the Tanaka that made 18 starts in the first half of the 2014 season in his second start this year but he was much better than he was on Opening Day. Tanaka pitched well enough to earn the win against the Boston Red Sox thanks to a seven run first inning by the Yankees offense. Tanaka held the Red Sox to four runs (three earned) in five innings on 97 pitches. Any step forward is good for Tanaka and he definitely took a step forward last outing so let’s hope for another step (or two) forward tonight in Tampa.

• Odorizzi has pitched well this season allowing just one run combined in his two starts to start 2015. Odorizzi allowed one run on two hits in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays as he pitched eight innings. Odorizzi has pitched well against the Yankees in an extremely small sample size of 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA, numbers that hopefully go up by the end of the day today.

I know it’s a Saturday night and all but let’s still come out and support our Yankees tonight against the Rays. Whether it be on the blog, on our Twitter account or down in Tampa St. Pete let’s support our Yankees tonight and let’s beat those Rays. Go Yankees!!!

Warming Up to a Jose Peraza Trade

As much as I hate to admit it I think I may have been wrong when I absolutely went off on Brian Cashman yesterday morning in a rant. If Cashman was able to pull off a trade for Jose Peraza for simply Gary Sanchez and another prospect I think I would have to eat crow and admit that it would be a pretty good trade for the Yankees, begrudgingly. I absolutely love Robert Refsnyder and what I believe he will bring to the table in the Bronx and I have been one of the bigger Didi Gregorius supporters there has been but Peraza makes too much sense for the Yankees to not pick him up and I am prepared to tell you why.

First and foremost shortstops that can hit are at an absolute premium these days, even more so than catchers who can hit, so there aren’t many Peraza type players inside the Yankees system or sitting around in free agency. A trade for a Yankees weakness, middle infielders, from a Yankees strong point, catching depth, makes a ton of sense for New York and it really improves the farm system overall. You have to remember that Peraza was basically hand in hand with another Yankees prospect Aaron Judge on almost every Top 100 Prospects list this offseason where Sanchez was left off those lists so New York would be getting a stronger prospect for a lesser prospect or two in a deal that also potentially fills a need in the long term.

I really like Gregorius and I have a ton of faith in Jorge Mateo, Abi Avelino and the rest of the Yankees shortstop prospects but Peraza is just too good to pass up. Mateo may be great but he is so far away he may not be as well. Trading for Peraza is like trading for the best case scenario and the ceiling of Mateo without the growing pains and the three or four year waiting period. Peraza is ready now for the major leagues in my opinion and if he’s not he will truly be ready by June. And while we’re talking projections you have to admit that neither Gregorius nor Peraza are finished products at this point in their careers but projection wise Peraza has to rank just a step or two ahead of Gregorius if all goes according to plan.

Peraza is a better fit for this team as he is a right handed hitter that balances out the bottom of the order. Peraza has the speed to hit 9^th and basically give the Yankees three leadoff hitters along with Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner along with potentially 60 stolen base per season speed and base running skills. Peraza along with Refsnyder at second gives the Yankees exactly what they need as they go into basically a rebuilding phase over the next three or four seasons and that’s a strong defense up the middle and a young core of players to build around. Someone will jump on Didi in a trade if the Yankees acquire Peraza and if not then you designate Brendan Ryan and you rotate Didi in off the bench whenever you can. When you have a slew of talent you don’t turn them away you simply find ways to get them into the lineup. That’s Joe Girardi’s job, not mine. It’s also Cashman’s job to put the best team on the field as possible and honestly, as much as I hate to admit it after my little rant yesterday, that team likely includes Peraza at shortstop. 

TGP Daily Poll: Tanaka Looks Like 2014 Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka makes the start for the New York Yankees on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays and will look like the Tanaka that was unhittable in his first 18 starts in 2014. Tanaka dominates the Rays!

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Budweiser Clydesdales & Brewmaster Tour to Visit RiverDogs

King of Beers showcase will be on April 23 as RiverDogs host Savannah Sand Gnats 

CHARLESTON, SC – Here is another reason to get excited about a Charleston RiverDogs’ Thirsty Thursday.

On Thursday, April 23, the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales, along with the King of Beers’ Brewmaster Tour will visit Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park prior to the Charleston RiverDogs hosting rival Savannah Sand Gnats. First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm.

“Fans of all ages will enjoy seeing the iconic Clydesdales, who represent Budweiser, one of our premier and longtime sponsors,” said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. “Having them parade around Riley Park will be a most-impressive sight.”

The impressive and world-renown Clydesdale horses are an enduring symbol of Budweiser’s rich heritage, tradition and commitment to quality. The hitch team’s visit to Riley Park is one of hundreds of appearances it will make in 2015 and it never fails to draw a crowd. This year marks the 82ndanniversary of the Budweiser Clydesdales, which made their first appearance on behalf of Anheuser-Busch on April 7, 1933, when they delivered a case of Budweiser to the White House in celebration of the repeal of prohibition of beer.

The Clydesdales will set up in adjacent Brittlebank Park at 5 pm, and their visit will be free to the public. At 6:30, the team will enter Riley Park and parade around the field for fans to get a close-up look at these stunning horses.

In addition to the Clydesdales’ appearance, Budweiser will also bring their Brewmaster Tour to Riley Park. This is a one-of-a-kind mobile experience providing guests 21 and over a glimpse of Budweiser’s brewing process. Fashioned after Budweiser’s Brewery Tours, the 48-foot trailer evolves into a model that offers consumers a step-by-step view of the 30-day brewing process of Budweiser.

Brewmasters lead this fully immersive experience by interacting with the ingredients, smelling aromas off the brewkettle, experiencing the cool aging cellars and tasting the finished product. After the tour is completed, visitors are encouraged to hang out in the area as fans will be able to talk with the brewmasters and purchase Budweiser gear through their online store. Admission will be free.

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/18: Jackson Tricks Tippy

On this day in 1978 Reggie Jackson deceived Indians pitcher Tippy Martinez when Reggie pretended to get angered by getting a sign from third base coach Dick Howser. It was well known that Reggie had the green light in 3-0 counts but pretended to be forced to take a pitch. Martinez threw a fastball right down the middle and Reggie slugged the ball into the bleachers and gave the Yankees a 4-3 walk off victory. 

Also on this day in 1972 for the first time in the Yankees storied franchise they played a night game on Opening Day in Yankee Stadium. The Yankees beat the Brewers 3-0 behind a gem by Steve Kline.

Also on this day in 1929 the Yankees became the second team to wear numbers on their uniforms when their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain. The Indians became the first team to wear numbers on their jerseys thanks to Mother Nature. New York assigned their numbers by where you hit in the lineup. Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, and Bill Dickey #10.

Finally on this day in 1923 the Yankees new $2.5 million ballpark was opened in style as Babe Ruth hit the first home run of the parks history. This is where the term "The House That Ruth Built" first started when referring to the original Yankees Stadium. This was the first ballpark to have three decks which sold over 72,000 Yankees tickets on this day. The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 beating the Sox hurler Howard Ehmke.